Inamoto denied as Belgians hold Japan

Co-hosts Japan were cruelly denied victory over Belgium in Saitama, as Junichi Inamoto's late strike was controversially ruled out at the end of an eventful second half which saw both sides take the lead before being pegged back.

After a season spent keeping the bench warm at Highbury, Arsenal's forgotten man came into this World Cup full of beans and with plenty to prove. And Inamoto did not disappoint his adoring fans, scoring a wonderful individual goal as Japan turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead. Inamoto also thought he had scored a late winner after Belgium equalised, but although he twisted his way inside two defenders in the 85th minute and stabbed the ball home, the referee signalled a free-kick to Belgium.

The result is still a good one for Japan, who struggled to cope with Belgium's extra physical presence and were often under pressure from high balls into the box. Indeed, Belgium could have stolen all three points themselves when, in the 92nd minute, Wesley Sonck was flattened by Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki, who was relieved to see the referee signal a corner rather than a penalty.

With several bottles of hair-dye shared out among the players, Japan were certain to catch the eye, but they started the game looking slightly overawed by the occasion and the daunting fact that no host team has ever lost their opening group game. The much-heralded Parma midfield player Hidetoshi Nakata was particularly disappointing, with several neat flicks falling to opposition players.

Belgium were not much better in a scrappy opening period but tall striker Gert Verheyen had the best chance of the half when a left-wing cross from Jacky Peeters left him with a free-header which he nodded wastefully over. Moments later Bart Goor should have opened the scoring for the Belgians when the ball rebounded to him inside the box, but he sliced his left-foot shot well wide.

A stunning goal from Marc Wilmots gave this game lift-off in the second half. A high ball intro the box caused panic amongst the Japanese, allowing Wilmots to position himself for a delightful bicycle-kick into the corner of the net.

Sparked into action by going behind, Japan soon found the perfect response. A long ball forward caught the sluggish Belgian backline square and Takayuki Suzuki jumped on his proverbial motorbike and accelerated clear, before stretching to toe-poke the ball past Geert De Vlieger.

The noise levels within the stadium increased tenfold as the home fans smelt blood. Verheyen and Peeters were booked in quick succession before Yanagisawa was brought down on the edge of the box. Then came Inamoto's moment, as he turned inside Peeters before racing past the static Eric van Meir and firing an unstoppable shot inside the far post.

Unfortunately for the ecstatic Japanese, their celebrations were halted early by some sloppy defending among their own ranks. A simple chipped pass into the box should have been cleared but Peter van der Hayden was the first to react and his delicate lob sailed over the keeper.

Despite the late controversies, a draw was a fair result here and is no disaster for either of these sides. But both will need to improve on defensive frailties if they are to progress in the tournament.